Genealogy Chat

Hi,
Can you please help, My great great grandfather died in the first world war. I have his regiment details and number and the date of his death. How can I be sure I have the correct person? There is no reference to his d.o.b or family details. Is there anywhere to find out this information.

Thanks, Nicola

Are you saying you have looked on Ancestry or FMP? Not quite clear from what you say.
If you are happy to give details maybe someone can check for you?
Jan

Hi,

I have got the information from FMP.
His name is Peter Higson, Regiment Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, number 16947. He was killed in action 30 Sept 1918, theatre of war France & Flanders. I would like to know I have the correct person.

Thanks

This entry is from Ancestry - is it the same info that you have?

Name: Peter Higson
Birth Place: Farnworth, Lancs
Residence: Farnworth
Death Date: 30 Sep 1918
Rank: Sergeant
Regiment: Loyal North Lancashire Regiment
Battalion: 1st Battalion.
Number: 16947
Type of Casualty: Killed in action
Theatre of War: Aldershot

Hi,
yes, although the theatre of war says Aldershot. I have France and Flanders.

This is from the CWGC site

HIGSON
Initials: P
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Serjeant
Regiment/Service: The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment
Unit Text: 1st Bn.
Date of Death: 30/09/1918
Service No: 16947
Awards: M M
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: III. B. 9.
Cemetery: BELLICOURT BRITISH CEMETERY

Unfortunately no family details given

George

Is it possible to find out family details?

In passing, the Ancestry one says France and Flanders too.
Jan

This is him too, but still no family details:


British Army WWI Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920
about Peter Higson
Name: Peter Higson
Regiment or Corps: Loyal North Lancashire Regiment
Regimental Number: 16947

There is a "qualifying date" 18.5.15 but I don't know what that means!

Jan

Was your great-grandfather alive in 1911? Perhaps you can find them together on 1911.

The only Peter Higsons born Farnworth on 1901 & 1911 seem to be a bit too old for WWI.

Ozi

There are quite a few Peter Higsons living in Bolton though, and Farnworth comes under there. These 3 are living in Farnworth, no way of knowing if one of them is the one Nicola has found:

HIGSON PETER M 1879 32 Bolton Lancashire
HIGSON PETER M 1883 28 Bolton Lancashire
HIGSON PETER HENRY M 1886 25 Bolton Lancashire

Nicola, you do not say if Farnworth fits as a place of residence.

Jan

Nicola

Trying to narrow down the possibilties, but on the CWGC site there were only 3 others with the name of Higson Peter or P who died in the whole of WW1

No Surname Rank Service Number Date Of Death Age Regiment/Service Nationality Grave/Memorial Ref. Cemetery/Memorial Name
1 HIGSON , PETER Private 4093 16/08/1916 23 King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment) United Kingdom II. A. 18. BOIS GUILLAUME COMMUNAL CEMETERY
2 HIGSON , P Serjeant 16947 30/09/1918 Unknown The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment United Kingdom III. B. 9. BELLICOURT BRITISH CEMETERY
3 HIGSON , P Private 352978 09/10/1917 Unknown Manchester Regiment United Kingdom XXIV. A. 17. TYNE COT CEMETERY


So its just one of those three, but do you know definitely the year he died, and the regiment he served in or is it that you have found this name that matches with the name of your relation.


These are the details

HIGSON, PETER
Initials: P
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment)
Unit Text: 1st/4th Bn.
Age: 23
Date of Death: 16/08/1916
Service No: 4093
Additional information: Son of James and Ellen Higson, of Atherton, nr. Manchester. Came from U.S.A. to enlist at Bolton in the 4th/5th Bn. Loyal North Lancs Regt.; volunteered for France and was transferred to the Royal Lancaster Regt.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: II. A. 18.
Cemetery: BOIS GUILLAUME COMMUNAL CEMETERY


HIGSON
Initials: P
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Manchester Regiment
Unit Text: 2nd/9th Bn.
Date of Death: 09/10/1917
Service No: 352978
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: XXIV. A. 17.
Cemetery: TYNE COT CEMETERY
But no details of family on this record


George

This is the only Peter Higson residing in Farnworth who is born in Farnworth.

1911
HIGSON PETER M 1879 32 Bolton Lancashire

His age would be OK.

These are with him:
HIGSON BETSY F 1875 36 Bolton Lancashire
HIGSON GEORGE M 1901 10 Bolton Lancashire
HIGSON JOHN M 1904 7 Bolton Lancashire


Ring any bells?

Ozi

Hi,
Ozi, this is the correct Peter Higson you have. I know from family information that he served withLoyal Lancashire Regiment and that he had died in WW1, the only person I could find that matched was 16947, which is what you others have kindly found aswell. It does give any information regarding family etc. does anyone know how to find any further information?

Thanks

His WW1 service records and pension records should be on Ancestry. Unfortunately, it looks like they didn't survive the WW2 bombing raid..

Rose

Nicola
You could try looking through old newspapers where there might be a report of his death.
I've found lots of information about whereabouts of family members during WW1 from newpapers.
Of course if he came from a large town it may be more difficult.
Good Luck
Von

Nicola

Looking again at his medal records and the info on the CWGC site, it looks to me that he was awarded the Military Medal which is a medal for gallantry.On the CWGC site you can see in the awards MM, perhaps someone else will confirm if i am correct in my thinking

Here is a link which gives the info about the medal
http://www.northeastmedals.co.uk/britishguide/military_medal_GV.htm

Now as far as i know these awards were published in the London Gazzette, and would also be at the National Archives.

I hate to say this but i have never mastered the search facilty on the National Archives, nor can i sort out the London Gazzette.

I hope someone with the know how how to search for this sort of record will assist you in this.

I know there is are members on here who are wizards at finding this sort of info.on the Nat. Archives

But not knowing the sort of info that is on these records, again they may not show who the family is.

Still trying to help

George

Thank you very much for your help.
Thank you George for your information. I'll have a look!

Thanks

The best way to find an entry in the London Gazette if you know the regimental number is to put that number into the "with the exact phrase" box. Have found the entry for his MM but there will be no personal details in the Gazette or on any MM medal card at Kew.